Bomb for use in connection with aeroplanes or flying-machines.



H. s. MAXIM. BOMB FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AEROPLANES 0R FLYINGMACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Patented Nov. 11, 1913.

m o o o w m T: 5 {will} Ill L -l sass. M

Wime 2 a H.-S. MAXIM.

BOMB FOR. USE IN CONNECTION .WITH AEROPLANES 0R FLYING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26, 1912.

1,077,989, Patented Nov. 11, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Witnesses.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC,

HIBAM STEVENS MAXIM, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, .ASSIGNOR U VICKE RS LIMITED,0]?

- WESTMINSTER, ENGLAND.

BOMB FOR USE IN'GONNEGTION WITH AEBQPLANES OB FLYING-MACHINES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, residing at Ryecotes, Dulwich Common, in the county of London,England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in orRelating to Bombs for Use in Connection with Aeroplanes or Flying-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to bombs for use in connection with aeroplanes orflying machines and particularly to bombs of the character in which adetonating charge is retained in a position remote from the main chargeuntil the bomb is discharged or released.

For the effective and safe use of bombs for the purpose of attackingpositions from aeroplanes or flying machines it is necessary that thebombs shall be capable of carrying a large charge of some very highexplosive. and it is further necessary that the bomb is capable of beingdisposed or arranged so as to be immune from accidental or prematureignition or explosion except when it is discharged or dropped from themachine at the instance of the aviator. It is further necessary that thebomb be of such a character as to ofi'er the least resistance to thepassage through the atmosphere while enabling the same to preserve acorrect attitude for eflioient use when liberated from the flyingmachine.

According to this invention the bomb is secured with its axis in thedirection of motion of the aeroplane or flying machine and the main bodyof the bomb containing the explosive charge is provided with a hollowextension containing a detonating charge which is retained in a positionremote from the main charge until the bomb is liberated{ when aretaining stop or pin which depends from the machine is automaticallywith-' drawn. When this takes place the detonat-v ing charge is free togravitate toward thev main charge and is ready for firing the. chargewhen the firing pin or the like is operated.

The invention further comprises improved dropping and securing gear andmeans for sighting or directing the bomb to the object or target.

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readilycarried into Specification of Letters latent.

Application filed March 25, 1912.

Patented Nov. 11, 1913.

Serial No. 686,001.

effect I will proceed to describe the same with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which':

Figure l is an elevation showing the improved bomb attached to theaeroplane or flying machine. Fig. 2 is a section taken along the axialline of the bomb. Fig. 3.

j lindrical o-r'other convenient form within which is placed a charge ofsome high explosi-ve such as pic-ric acid either pure or in a a modifiedform. At a convenient distance from the cylindrical structure a andadapted to enter the same by means of a hollow or tubular connection a,"is a small auxiliary or detonating charge a which may be composed partlyof picric acid or other high explosive; a suitable primer a may bearranged in proximityto the firing pin a as shown, or be carried by thesaid charge a itself. The hollow or tubular connection a may be acontinuation of a hollow core or tube 6 which traverses the receptacleor cylinder a, and within which the firing in a, is arranged in suitablerelationship to t e main charge so that u on the detonating charge aenterin the ollow or tubular core Z situated within the cylinder a thefiring of such detonatin charge by the firing pin or, will have the eect of firing the main charge contained in the aforesaid receptacle orcylinder. The firing pin a is normally retalned in an inoperativeposltion by means of small pin a which is adapted to be sheared from themachine by means of suitably formed hooks b or equivalent devicesadapted to engage projections or clips 6 provided on the cylinder a;said hooks b being pivoted to the framework 1) of the machine andconnected together by a rod or link 0 so that they may be simultaneouslyoperated through the handle orlever 0. Arms or rods 0 and I) areattached to the machine and adapted to pass, the one, 0 into a gap oraperture a formed in the tubular connection a, the other I) engaging thefiring pin a, or an extension thereof as hereinbefore described. Thehooks b or equivalent devices may be readily actuated by means of thelever c, and, instead of the connecting rod 0, a crank or other suitableor equivalent contrivance may be provided for bringing about theirsimultaneous operation.

In the position of suspension from the machine, the arms ?2 and a havethe effect of preventing the firing pin a being pushed in and ofpreventing the auxiliary charge a from moving forward into the firingposition so that the apparatus is safe from accidental firing, as anyshock or the like will have no effect as regards causing the picric acidto explode. The only means of firing or setting off the main charge isthe strong detonating charge a which according to this -invention isWidely separated from the picric acid charge in the bomb when theapparatus is in the position referred to. In the event of an accident ora fall it is possible that the detonating or auxiliary charge a might beignited or set off, but being situated remotely from the main charge thelatter would not be affected thereby. The bomb is provided at the rearextremity with a tail piece 0 comprising guiding fins or wings a of anyappropriate construction. By means of the tail piece 0 the bomb isenabled to preserve a vertical attitude and its course in the directionof the object or target when the latter has been sighted and.

the bomb discharged. In manipulatin the bomb, assuming the aviator isapproac ing a point of attack, his

first care is to examine his barometer to ascertain the height he hasattained from the earth and then by means of the device 03, Fig. 3,comprising a sector d, suitably marked to denote feet, yards or otherdesignations of measurement, and a radial pivotally mounted sighting armd and a pointer d associated therewith, 'he ascertains the position fromwhich'he, can dis- F charge the bomb so as to insure the same 1 reachingthe object or target.

This position is ascertained by moving the pointer (i to the graduationor figure onthe sector J denoting the height from the earth and bysighting the object or target alongthe arm d; When the desired positionis reached during the travel or movement of the aeroplane mad I I orflying machine the bomb is released from the machine by means of thelever c or other contrivance as hereinbet'ore described. Thus the firingpin a is released from the arm I) and simultaneously a free passage isafforded for the auxiliary charge a to pass along the tubular connectiona to the vicinity of the firing pin a". The bomb will then travel alongthe trajectory e illustrated in Fig. 4 in a more or less curved track.first with the speed of the" machine, but very soon it. will commence tofall rapidly and will ultimately arrive at a point in close proximity tothat to which the sighting line 6 is directed. Thus the aviator isenabled to dispose of the bomb with a considerable degree of precision.When the bomb comes into contact with the object the retaining pin (L5pertaining to the firing pin a is sheared and the firing pin a, isreleased and moves inward; the auxiliary charge (1 having traveled alongthe tubular connection a into close proximity to the pin a or thedetonator a as the case may be the explosion is effected, thesurrounding tube Z ruptured and the main charge exploded.

Assuming the sectord to be graduated in feet it may be marked withnumerals indicating one hundred each so that the units 1 to 9 mayindicate one hundred to nine hundredand the numeral 10 indicate onethousand feet.

In some cases it may be necessary to pro vide for the ignition or firingof the main charge to be delayed, for instance, for the purpose ofenabling the aviator to get clear or beyond the range of the bomb he hasdeposited. In such a case the detonator a is arranged to fire a smallquantity of a slow burning fuse -mixture or composition arranged in thesmall chamber or passage a, Fig. 2, so that when said fuse mixture hasburned for the predetermined periodof timesay a quarter of a minute orsothe large detonating charge a which is in close proximity thereto isset off and ignites the main body of explosive in the cylinder. Thustime is afforded for the aviator to get out of the danger zone beforethe main charge is fired or exploded. 1 a

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesis ze- 1. In a bomb for use with aeroplanes or flying machines thecombination of a main explosive charge, a detonating charge, 120 meansfor securing the bomb with its axial .line in the direction of'motion ofthe macuring the bomb with its axial line in the direction of motionofthe machine and a tail piece for causing the bomb to assume a verticalattitude after being released and during its descent. I

3. In a bomb for use with aeroplanes or flying machines, the combinationof a main explosive charge, a detonatin charge adapted to gravitatetoward. sai .maln charge, means for normally maintaining the saidcharges apart, hooksfor securing the bomb with its axial line in thedirection of motion of the machine, means for disengaging said hooksfrom the bomb to release the same and a tail iece for causing the bombto assume bomb is liberated, hooks for securing the bomb with its axialline in the direction of motion of the machine, means for disenga'g ingsaid hooks from the bomb to release the same, a firing pin in suitablerelationship to the main charge and a tail piece whereby the bomb iscaused to assume a vertical attitude after being released and during itsdescent. 1

5. In a bomb for use with aeroplanes or.

flying machines, the combination of a main body portion, an explosivecharge therein, a central longitudinal passage in said, main bodyportion, a hollow extension on said main body portion, a detonatingcharge con,- tained in said hollow extension and capableof traversingthe same, a pin for retaining said detonating charge in a positionremote from the main charge until the bomb, is lib erated, catches forsecurin the bomb with its axial line in the direction of motion of l themachine, mechanism for disengaging.

said catches from the bomb, a firing pin at the fore end of the bomb,means for retaining said pin in the inoperative position and a tailiecefor causing the bomb to assume a'vertical attitude after being releasedand during its descent.

In testimony whereof I aflixmy signature in presence of two witnesses.I.

li-HRAM STEVENS MAXIM.

Witnesses:

HARRY Gr. L ons,

CH. BRASHEARS Barman,

